![With their season's biggest test looming, there is one thing the Jaguars need to do. - [Senior Airman Christine Griffiths via Wikimedia Commons]](https://staticr1.blastingcdn.com/media/photogallery/2018/1/9/660x290/b_502x220x82/with-their-seasons-biggest-test-looming-there-is-one-thing-the-jaguars-need-to-do-senior-airman-christine-griffiths-via-wikimedia-commons_1773029.jpg "With their season's biggest test looming, there is one thing the Jaguars need to do. - [Senior Airman Christine Griffiths via Wikimedia Commons]")
After an ugly win against the Buffalo Bills in the Wild Card round, the Jacksonville Jaguars will have their biggest test of the season as they go to Pittsburgh to face off against the Steelers. The Steelers are 7.5-point favorites against the Jaguars.
The Jaguars are going to need a lot to go right if they want to go into Heinz Field and beat a team the caliber of the Steelers, but they proved earlier this season that they have the capability of doing just that.
Jags-Steelers Rivalry
Early in the season, in Week 5, the Jaguars showed the world that they were nothing to mess with as they came into Heinz Field and had a crushing 30-9 victory over the Steelers.
Behind a dominant rushing game led by Leonard Fournette and a stout defense, the Jags showed their value in Pittsburgh.
We ran for 231 yards the last time we played the Steelers.
— z-#Sacksonville (@Jaguars) January 11, 2018
To repeat that performance, Fournette will have to run with his eyes as much as his legs. pic.twitter.com/xirZSml6S6
The defense, as it has all season for Jacksonville, opened up opportunities that the offense took advantage. It really says a lot about a defense to intercept a future Hall of Fame quarterback like Ben Roethlisberger five times in a game. The five interceptions are the most Big Ben has thrown in one game in his career. The game got so deep in Roethlisberger's head, that he even started questioning his own abilities and debated retirement.
Jalen on Big Ben comments: I would want to play us again too if I were him. We had five picks and after the game I think he was contemplating retirement. @1010XL @Jaguars #Jaguars
— Brent Martineau (@BrentASJax) January 8, 2018
Now the Jaguars have a chance to replicate this result with their second win in Pittsburgh on the season.
Only one team has had two wins in Pittsburgh in one season: The 2007 Jaguars.
Only one team has beaten the Steelers in Pittsburgh twice within the same season, including playoffs: 2007 Jaguars
— NFL Research (@NFLResearch) January 7, 2018
The 2017 @Jaguars can match them next week (beat Steelers 30-9 in Pittsburgh in Week 5)
The Jaguars ended that season as the No.
6 offense and a No. 10 defense, whereas the Jaguars ended this season as the No. 5 offense and the No. 2 defense, according to Pro Football Reference. Though David Garrard was better that season than Blake Bortles is right now, the teams nearly mirrored each other offensively, the 2017 Jags have the edge on defense, and they're going to need it going up against one of the most explosive and dangerous offenses in the league.
The Jaguars lead the all-time series against the Steelers 13-11.
No. 1 key to success
The key to victory for the Jags is not playing from behind. When the Jaguars fall down by 10 in a game, they are 0-6 on the season, and if you need a refresher, that is every single one of their losses.
So, that means that if the Jaguars keep the deficit to fewer than nine points in games on the season, they are 10-0. The defense needs to step up big time if there's any chance the Jaguars are making it out of this round.
As much as I don't agree with the disrespecting of Bortles and his talent, he is not the person I want under center if my team goes down by double-digit points, especially going up against the Killer B's.
If anyone is built to stop the Steelers' offense in the AFC, it is the Jaguars. Their shutdown cornerbacks are the big piece of this puzzle to slow down the ever-so-hard to deal with receiving corps in Pittsburgh.
The Jaguars can't let the Steelers run away with this game and Leonard Fournette needs to bring back the magic he brought to the team last time around in Heinz Field.
